We face decisions everyday that seek to divide us: Michigan or Michigan State (Go Spartans!), Democrat or Republican (no comment), Coke or Pepsi, rock or country, and last but not least hymns or praise choruses. These decisions that we make can be of little importance or of great importance. I myself would love to see another Michigan football season much like the last, with maybe one or two less wins, but my best friend would have to be coaxed off of a ledge if that happened. My wife on the other hand couldn’t care less if Michigan State won the national championship, unless it happened on Facebook.

On Sunday, August 30, we witnessed something historical in Cedar Springs and I hope you had the opportunity to attend it. The Cedar Springs Ministerial Association hosted the first annual worship service in Morley Park, and it was called “United.” We don’t have exact numbers, but it was estimated that over 500 people were in attendance at the 11:00 a.m. service, and many people stuck around afterwards for a free lunch of hot dogs and chips. After the lunch was a time of hanging with friends and family while the kids played on the dozen inflatable games, or in the park on the playground equipment. You could also take a turn at dunking your pastor in the “Dunk Tank,” which an un-named pastor broke! To conclude the day was a time of worship music provided by a worship team made up of people from over 6 area churches. It was an awesome time of unity.

Unity, as you might guess does not come easy, nor does it come naturally. If you have more than one child in your house, or if you have a sibling, you know that peace is not a natural outcome over time. In fact, Jesus knew, when He left this Earth, that, as Christians, we would have the natural tendency to divide. In John 17:21 Jesus prays that, “…all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus was warning us that people who are not Christians will be watching what we do. Because let’s face it, we as Christians don’t have the best reputation when it comes to bonding together in unity. We have as many denominations as there are Baskin Robbins flavors. But I can tell you that the churches in our area are working together to unite on the things that we all have in common, and this has been a long time coming. As one song that we sang says, “Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city…”

I think one of our area pastors said it best when we ended our prayer for our area by saying, “We Family!” This pastor happens to be one of the football coaches here in Cedar Springs, and this is what they say everyday to conclude their practice. That, no matter what happens in the heat of battle, we’re all family. Even though we may disagree on style, music, dress, hymns, etc… We are united on the big things. Like a family we are made up of different people, and we all have our strengths and weaknesses, not to mention that really weird aunt! But together we can all agree on reaching out to our community to show the love that was shown to us. Great job Cedar Springs, and a big “thank you” from “En-Gedi,” our future community youth center that was given over $1,100 as an offering. Watch out for more community events from our ministerial association.